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The '''Hong Kong Special Administrative Region''' or '''Hong Kong''' (香港, pinyin: Xiānggǎng, WG: Hsiang-kang, Cantonese IPA, Jyutping or Penkyamp: hoeng1 gong2, meaning ''Fragrant Harbour''), is one of two Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of the People's Republic of China (the other is Macau), consisting of a small peninsula attached to China's southern coast and 236 islands in the South China Sea, of which Hong Kong Island is the second largest and Lantau the largest. Under the policy of the 'One Country, Two Systems', Hong Kong enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy from the Mainland, continues to have its own currency, customs and immigration, legal system, and even its own rule of the road, with traffic continuing to drive on the left. Residents may be called "Hongkongers" or "Hong Kong people". "Hong Kong" is used as the adjective.

'''中華人民共和國香港特別行政區
Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region of the People's Republic of China'''

Image:Hong kong flag large.png	Image:Hong Kong coa.png
(In Detail)	(Full size)

''National motto: None''

Image:LocationHongKong.png

Official languages

Chinese (Cantonese spoken de facto) and English

Chief Executive

Tung Chee-hwa

Area
- Total
- % water

(Not ranked)
1,102.15 km²
4.6%

Population
- Total (July 2003)
- Density

(Not ranked)
6,803,100
6,771/km²

Establishment
- Date

Handover to the PRC
July 1, 1997

Currency

Hong Kong dollar (HKD)

Time zone

UTC +8 (AWST)

Internet TLD

.HK

Calling Code

852 ''also '''01'''
from Macau''

== History == ''Main article: History of Hong Kong'' Although it was occupied since at least as long ago as the Neolithic Age, the territory of today's Hong Kong remained distant from the major events unfolding in imperial China for most of its history. It did not begin attracting worldwide attention until the 19th century. Occupied by United Kingdom during the First Opium War in 1841, Hong Kong Island was formally ceded by China the following year under the Treaty of Nanking. Parts of the adjacent Kowloon Peninsula (south of Boundary Street, and the Stonecutters Island) were ceded to Britain in 1860 by the Convention of Peking after the Second Opium War. Various adjacent lands, known as the New Territories (including New Kowloon) were then leased to Britain for 99 years (from July 1, 1898 to June 30, 1997). Pursuant to an agreement signed by the PRC and the UK on December 19, 1984, the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the whole territory of Hong Kong under British colonial rule became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC on July 1, 1997. In the Joint Declaration, the PRC promised that, under the "One Country, Two Systems" policy proposed by Deng Xiaoping, China's socialist economic system would not be practiced in Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters, except foreign affairs and defence, for 50 years, until 2047. == Politics == ''Main article: Politics of Hong Kong'' The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is headed by Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa as head of government. Mr. Tung assumed office on July 1, 1997, following his election by a 400-member Selection Committee appointed by the People's Republic of China, whose president serves as head of state for the Hong Kong SAR. The Pro-government parties and interests group claimed that Tung was nominated by the majority of members of a broadly representative Election Committee in February 2002 and was returned unopposed for a second term which began in July 2002. However, the majority of media and democratic parties criticised that the election is a falsification of democracy, in which all 400 legitimate voters for chief executive are selected by the China Government to ensure the Beijing-appointed candidate were elected. In fact, during Tung's run for second term in 2002, he was the only one candidate in the election that made him apparently unopposed for election. Followed by the historically mass protest in July 1, 2002, the Tung's cabinet were immediately dragged in a crisis of governance. Two top officials were resigned and the cabinet was forced to reshuffle. There have been strong voices over the reform in constitution that brings suffrage to Hong Kong citizens, but the possibility for reform has been ruled out by the China Government. Legislative Council elections were held in May 1998 and again in September 2000. According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong's "Mini-constitution", the second Legislative Council has 24 directly elected members; the other 30 members are either appointed or chosen by occupational constituencies, with six being elected by a special Election Committee. The composition of every Legislative Council, in terms of the number of seats for geographical constituencies, functional constituencies and election committee, is not fixed once and for all, in particular, the 2004 election marked the end of election committee. The 1998 and 2000 Legislative Council elections were seen as free, open, and widely contested, despite discontent among mainly pro-democracy politicians that the Functional Constituencies and Election Committee elections are essentially undemocratic because so few voters are eligible to vote. In the latest legislative council election in Sept 2004, the so-called pan-democratic alliance earned more than 60% of popular votes, but under the beijing-designed election system, they earned only 40% seats and remained the minority.

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''A simulated-color satellite image of the Victoria Harbour and the former Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport, both in Hong Kong, taken on NASA's Landsat 7.''

The Right of abode issue sparked debates in 1999, while the controversy over Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 was the focus of politics in Hong Kong between 2002 and 2003, and the focus of controversies shifted to the issue of universal suffrage towards the end of 2003 and in 2004. Two peaceful mass demonstrations were organized in 2003 and 2004 with hundreds of thousands of participants. == Districts == ''Main article: Districts of Hong Kong'' Hong Kong consists of 21 districts: * Central and Western * Eastern * Islands * Kowloon City * Kwai Tsing * Kwun Tong * Mong Kok * North District * Sai Kung * Sham Shui Po * Sha Tin * Shau Kei Wan * Southern * Tai Po * Tsuen Wan * Tuen Mun * Wan Chai * Wong Tai Sin * Yau Tsim Mong * Yau Ma Tei * Yuen Long

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Map of Hong Kong

== Geography == ''Main article: Geography of Hong Kong'' The name "Hong Kong" is derived from Hong Kong Island in the South China Sea, at the mouth of the Xi Jiang (or Pearl River) of southern China. Other territories that were later added include the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories, which include over 200 surrounding islands. The landscape is fairly hilly to mountainous with steep slopes, the highest point being the Tai Mo Shan (大帽山, literally meaning "Big Hat Mountain") at 958 m, though lowlands exist in the north. Of the total of 1102 km² of Hong Kong, only 25% are developed. The remaining 75% are set aside as country parks and nature reserves. The local climate is that of a tropical monsoon clime. It is cool and humid in winter (Jan-Mar), hot and rainy from spring through summer (Apr-Sep), and warm, sunny and dry in the autumn (Oct-Dec). Hong Kong is visited by occasional typhoons. On September 18, 1906, a typhoon and tsunami killed an estimated 10,000 persons. See also: Ecology of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Country Parks & Special Areas == Economy == ''Main article: Economy of Hong Kong'' Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Indeed, imports and exports, including re-exports, each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on July 1, 1997, it already had extensive trade and investment ties with the People's Republic of China. The service industry represented 86.5% of the GDP in 2001, and the territory, with a highly sophisticated banking sector, has housed the Asian headquarters of many multinational corporations in recent decades.

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Hong Kong Skyline, as seen from Tsim Sha Tsui

Per capita GDP compares with the level in the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% in 1989-1997. The widespread Asian economic difficulties in 1998 hit this trade-dependent economy quite hard, with GDP down 5%. The economy, with growth of 10% in 2000, recovered rapidly from the Asian financial crisis. The recent global downturn has badly hurt Hong Kong's exports and GDP growth was 2.3% in 2002. The main airport, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), is located on a partly artificial island connected to Lantau Island. The airport is often called Chek Lap Kok Airport, after one of the islands it was built upon. HKIA replaced the older Kai Tak Airport, which was known for its spectacular urban approach. Kai Tak was retired after Chek Lap Kok was built and now serves as a recreational venue and has been earmarked for housing development. In early 2003, the local economy was hit hard by the outbreak of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). On June 29, 2003, the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) was signed. CEPA allows Hong Kong service providers in 18 areas to enter the mainland market at least one year ahead of their foreign competitors. The arrangement provides a platform for Hong Kong professionals to practice on the mainland and also allows Hong Kong permanent residents to set up individually owned retail stores in Guangdong Province. On July 28, 2003, the Individual Visit Scheme was started to allow travellers from some cities in mainland China to visit Hong Kong on an individual basis. As a result, the tourism industry in Hong Kong is booming once again. See also: *Hang Seng Index *List of Chinese companies *Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office

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View of the central district of Hong Kong, from Victoria Peak

== Demographics == ''Main article: Demographics of Hong Kong'' Hong Kong is by population the fourth largest metropolitan area of the PRC (see List of cities in China). Considered as a "dependency", Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated countries/dependencies in the world, with an overall density of nearly 6,700 people per km². Despite the population density, Hong Kong was reported to be one of the greenest cities in Asia. The majority of people live in flats in high-rise buildings. The rest of the open spaces are often covered with parks, woods and shrubs. About 60% of the land is designated as Country Parks and Nature Reserves. Hiking and camping are popular outdoor activities in Hong Kong's hilly country parks. The irregular and long coastline of Hong Kong also provides many bays and fine beaches for its inhabitants. The vertical placement of the population explains why ''densely populated, green city'' is not an oxymoronic phrase. Cantonese, the Chinese dialect used in Hong Kong government matters, is spoken by most of the population at home and in the office. English, also an official language, is quite widely understood; it is spoken, mostly at work, by more than one-third of the population. Every major religion is practiced in Hong Kong; ancestor worship is predominant due to the strong Confucian influence, whereas Christianity is practised by a minority of 10%.

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Hong Kong Skyline, as seen from Victoria Peak